Growing up in Pearland, Mike Clore could picture himself in uniform playing center field for the New York Yankees one day. But as he grew older, that picture faded from view.
While he didn’t end up playing in the major league, he did wind up in a uniform,
“We played cops and robbers, too, as kids,” said Clore, who last month was selected to replace Sheriff Chris White during the March 8 commissioners court meeting. White resigned for personal reasons on the last day of February.
It turns out the law enforcement uniform proved to be a better fit .
After graduating from Pearland High School, he enrolled at nearby Alvin Community College’s touted police academy.
He was eager to start his policing career after graduating from the academy and looked to the forces in Pearland and Alvin.
“In those days there were more applicants than jobs,” he said. “I was always in the top five but never grabbed that one or two spot.”
He had ties to Milam County as his grandmother lived in Cameron and he had visited many times, so he listened to his dad and applied to the Cameron force.
Leonard Doskocil hired Clore to the force in Cameron, then Clore went to Rockdale’s police force.
He says he honed his policing skills while working in those two cities.
Clore joined the Milam County Sheriff’s Office in April of 2004 and has served under three sheriffs, Charlie West, David Green and White, before becoming sheriff himself.
Clore started out as a patrolman in the department and moved up to lieutenant. Later he was named captain, then chief deputy which was the position he held before being named sheriff.
“I bring experience, a calm head and fresh vision,” he said of his view of the office.
He also brings with him what he learned from his former supervisors.
“Ted Retchloff was the greatest chief deputy ever to wear the badge. He was very knowledgeable and got along with everybody,” Clore said. “He was honest. Just a great all-around guy.”
He said the late Sheriff Green modernized the department. “David Green brought a
“David Green brought a lot of innovations. He threw away the two sticks and brought in a Zippo,” Clore said.
He hired people who knew how to delegate, Clore said.
“Retchloff and White were also instrumental in moving the office into this century,” he said.
Outside the office Clore said that, as a single dad, he likes to spend time with his kids and work on his house, which is the one his grandmother used to live in.
He also hopes he can find some time to play more golf.
Clore just recently completed a training course at the Correctional Management Institute of Texas, a division of Sam Houston State University. He was one 28 sheriffs chosen from across Texas for the course. Clore spent more than 40 hours in the program learn ing more of the skills and the techniques needed for managing a county jail.
On that note, Clore said he is thankful for the staff he inherited in his new position.
“We have a great group of people here. I am really proud of the people we have here,” he said. “I am going to continue what David Green and Chris White did and I am going to continue it into the future, the good Lord willing.”
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